Inclinometer



Patented .lune 25, 194@ WGUTER Daniel B. Monroe, llienver, Colo.

Application December l, i938, Serial No. 243,344

9 Claims. (011. i3-221) This invention relates ,to an instrument for determining the amount of incline and the direction of incline of well holes and is more particularly designed as an improvementover applicants prior Patents Nos. 2,057,787 and The principal object of this invention is to provide an instrument of the above character in which the winding of the actuating clock, the

1! setting of the time interval, and the setting of the trigger can all be accomplished from a single control member which is absolutely sealed against the entrance of moisture. In former devices of this type, winding and setting keys 5 and openings were necessary. The keys and openings formed entrances whereby moisture, dust; mud, and oil entered the instrument to render it inoperative. The improved instrument is absolutely sealed and yet all the neces- 20 sary adjustments and settings can be readily accomplished.

Cther objects of the invention are: to provide an oil well surveying instrument which can be lowered through or with the drill pipe of 25 an oil well drilling rig and which will produce a visible record of the incline of the drill pipe at any desired point andan accurate record of the direction of incline; to provide an instrument in which exceedingly wide angle capacity can 30 be had from an instrument of minimum length; to provide an instrument in which it will be impossible for the plumb bob or marking member to damage the record or target while the instrument is being inserted or withdrawn; and 35 to provide a plumb bob support in an instrument of this character by means of which the plumb bob may be resiliently locked .when not in use to prevent its swinging against the casing.

Other objects and advantages ride in the 40 detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and eiciency.

These will become more apparent from the fol-l lowing description.

In the following detailed description of the 45 invention reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numeralsrefer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description. w In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the improved oil well surveying instrument.

Eig. Z is a similar section taken angles 'to the section of Fig. 1.

55 Iflg. 3 is a. view with the casing broken away iat right to show the operating Lmechanism in side elevation. l

Fig. 4 is a cross section looking upwardly on line fl-t, Fig. l. l

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the target disc employed in the instrument.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section taken on the line t--, Fig. 2.

The improved instrument comprises: a main or lower tubular casing lll which telescopically engages an upper tubular casing ll, the joint between the two casings being relatively long and relatively tight to prevent thel entrance of moisture. The Iupper casing ll is'closed at its top by means of a plug I2 which is forced into the upper casing ll to form a long, water-tight, sealed joint therewith.

A threaded plumb bob stud I3 extends axially upwardly from a counter-bored hole in the plug l2 and is sealed against the entrance of moisture by means of a packing nut M. The upper exV tremity of the stud terminates in a finger button l5 carrying a spring actuated click ball l@ which holds the knob in the completely screwed in position so that it cannot vibrate or loosen. The lower extremity of the stud i3 is cupped to form a socket for a ball il which is drilled to receive a exible chain or cable It upon which a plumb bob l9 is suspended.

The entire weight of the plumb bob is supported by the ball il and the ball in turn is supported by means of a compression spring 2@ which acts against a perforated bottom il! in the counter-bore. This construction forms a swivel joint which allows the stud to be rotated without rotating the cable i8 or the plumb bob i9. When the stud is screwed downwardly, the plumb bob will be -lowered to a free swinging position.

The bottom of the plumb bob carries a marking point 22, against which a marking target 23 is forced at pre-set times. The target is removably clamped in the upper extremity of a compass housing 24 by means of a clamping bezel 25. f,

The upper portion of the compass housing 24- is hollow and is provided with a compass glass 2B, below which a magnetic compass' needle 2l is mounted upon a suitable pivot. At the axis of both the glass and the needle 2l a locking pad 28 is carried. The compass needle is mounted on a movable compass face 29 Whichrin turn is carried upon a face supporting rod 30 which extends downwardly throughthe housing 24 and terminates in a head 3|.

The compass face is constantly urged upwardly by mans of a leaf spring 32 and, when the head 3| is released, this spring forces the compass face upwardly until the two locking pads 28 contact each other to lock the compass needle at pre-set times. .The compass face is held downwardly against the action of the spring 32 by means of a latch member 33 pivotedat 34 on the bottom of the compass housing 24. A wire spring 35 acts to constantly force the latch member 33 toward the head 3| and, if this head is pulled downwardly, the latch will snap between it and the compass housing to hold the compass needle in the operating position.

The compass housing 24 is moved upwardly and downwardly by means of a connecting rod 36 which, at its upper extremity, is secured to the compass housing and, at its lower extremity, to a crank arm 31. on a crank shaft 38 upon which a clock spring 39 is mounted. The clock spring 39 constantly tends to rotate the crank arm in a counterclockwise direction, looking at Fig. 3. The arc of movement in this direction is limited by means of a stop 40.

To set the device, the crank arm 31 is rotated in a clockwise direction until its point snaps past a locking pawl 4| on the extremity of a trigger lever "42. vThe set position is indicated in brokenline at A, Fig. 3. The triggerr lever is pivoted near its upper extremity upon a suitable pivot pin 43. 'Ihe lower extremity thereof is relatively long and extends downwardly to a :releasing cam 44.

The cam 44 is formed with a flat side and is secured on a time shaft 46 which is rotated through the medium of suitable clock works 41.

The clock works are mounted in a cylindrical clock frame 48' upon which the crank shaft 38 and its related mechanism are mounted. The

shaft 46 carries an indicating hand 49 which moves around a time scale 50 visible through a clock glass 5| sealed in the side of the frame 48. The lower casing is cut away opposite the clock glass 5I and the clock frame isV drawn tightly against the outer casing at this point by means of counter-sunk screws 6,8 to prevent the entrance of dust and moisture. The screws 68 support the entire weight of the operating mechanism below the plumb bob.

It can be seen that as the clock shaft 46 rotates it will eventually reach a position where the flat side on the releasing cam 44 will allow the lower extremity of the lever 42 to swing to the left, as shown in Fig. 6,l thus lowering the upper extremity thereof and the locking pawl 4| from contact with the crank arm 31. This will allow the clock spring 39 to snap the arm almost one complete revolution in a counter-clockwise direction. As the crank arm swings across its highest point, the compass housing 24 will be elevated sufliciently far to force the target 23 against the point 22 and the former will be immediately withdrawn as the crank `arm 31 descends to the stop 40.

An instant after the crank arm crosses its top position, it will strike a rocker 52 which is pivoted at 53 on the connecting rod 36. The upper extremity of this rocker rests against the compass latch member 33 and when it is struck, it swings against the latch member causing it to be rotated from its engagement under the head 3|.

This allows the spring 32 to snap the compass needle upwardly to bring the pads28 into contact and lock the needle at the exact instant that the point The crank arm 31 is secured l 22 pierces the target. It will remain in this locked position since the latch member cannot again enter between the head 3| and the compass housing until the supporting rod 30 is withdrawn.

It is necessary to provide means for winding the main spring of the clock works 41; for rotating the crank arm 31 backwardly to the preset position; for releasing-the compass needle; and for setting the hand 49 at the desired time interval. All of the above operations are ac- -complished in the present device from a single vknurled finger knob 54 which is mounted upon a. pre-setting shaft 55 that extends below the clock frame 48. The finger knob 54 is enclosed in a'water-tight, threaded cap 56 which also seals the bottom of the housing |'|l.

The clockworks 41 contains the usual winding shaft 51 upon which a. winding gear 58 is mounted. The time shaft 46 is provided with a. miter gear 59 and the crank shaft 38 is provided with a miter or spur gear 60.

The pre-setting shaft 55 is balanced between a lower spring 62 and an upper spring 69 both of which are compressed between a, pair of collars on the shaft 55 and a bottom 1|! in a counter-bore in the frame 48. The shaft 55 carries a first gear 6|, which is normally held in engagement with the winding gear 58 by means of a compression spring 62; a second gear 63, which is normally positioned above the miter gear 59; and a third gear 64, normally positioned below the gear 60.

Therefor, if the shaft 55'be rotated when in its normal position, it will rotate the winding gear 58 to wind the main spring of the clock works 41. If the nger knob 54 is pulled downwardly or away from the clock works, it will disengage the gears 58 and 6I and engage the gears 63 and 59 so that rotation thereof will turn the winding hand 49 and the releasing cam 44 to the desired pre-set position. If the finger member 55 be pushed upwardly, it will release the gears 58, 6I, 59 and 63 and will force the' gear 64 into mesh with the gear 60 so that rotation of the shaft 55 will rotate the crank arm 41 backwardly toward the locked position on the pawl 4|.

It will be noted that a. chain 65 extends from a xed connection on 'the clock frame 48 to the head 3| on the supporting rod 30. This chain is of a length to draw the rod 30 downwardly its full movement as the crank arm31 passes its extreme top position to allow the latch member 33 to snap between the head 3| and the compass housing 24. Therefore rearward rotation of the crank arm not only sets the crank arm but also automatically releases and locks the compass in the released position.

It is believed that the operation of the device will beclear to anyone skilled in the art from the above description. In use, the instrument rs pre-set for a certain timevinterval suicient to allow it to be lowered to the desired position in the well and the plumb bob is released by screwing the stud shaft inwardly to its full downward position. The entire instrument is then snugly enclosed in an outer protective barrel, such as shown in applicants prior patents, and the barrel is lowered in the drill stem of the well drilling equipment. y

After the time interval has elapsed, the instrument is withdrawn, the casing is removed from the casing I0, the target 23 is removed, and the locked position of the compass needle is noted.

22 is from the axis of the target will give the degree of' deflection and the circumferential position of the perforation with reference to the locked position of the compass needle will give the exact compass direction of the deiiection.

When the device is not in use, the knob l5 is rotated to free the ball ll to allow the spring I3 to lift the plumb bob to the position of Fig. 1 so that accidental contact with the target disc will be prevented. The spring 20 also acts to resilient-.1y hold the plumb bob in an axial posiv tion to 'prevent it from striking the sides of the casing il. The spring 20 closes with a round top cap 66 on the plumb bob to hold it in an axial position, yet allows sufcient resiliency to prevent breakage of the cable it in case of extreme mishandling.

` The entire operating mechanism can be slid from the bottom of the casing Il for inspection and repair by simply removing the screws td.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patentl is:

1. A plumb bob suspension for oil well surveying instruments comprising: a housing surrounding a plumb bob; a plug member closing the top of said housing, there being an axial passage through said plug member; a ball in said passage; a spring supporting said ,ball therein; a flexiblemember extending from said ball to said plumb bob and holding the latter stationary against the bottom of said plug; and means for forcing said ball downwardly to release said plumb bob from said plug and allow it to be freely suspended. 2. A plumb bob suspension for oil well surveying instruments comprising: a housing sur'- rounding a plumb bob; a plug member closing the top of said housing, there being an axial passage through said plug member; a ball in said passage; a spring carried-by said plug member and supporting said ball therein; a fiexible member extending from said ball to said plumb bob so that the latter may be supported by said spring; and means for forcing said ball downwardly to release said plumb bob from said plug and allow it to be freely suspended, the top-of said plumb bob being rounded so that when pulled upwardly by said spring, the rounded sur- Yface will act to bring said plumb bob to an axial position. l

3. A 'plumb bob suspension for oil well surveying instruments comprising: a plumb bob supporting member having an axial perforation in its bottom; a flexible member extending through said perforation; a plumb bob suspended on the lower extremity of said exible member; spring means carried 'by said supporting member and acting against the other extremity of said flexible member to urge it upward, said flexible member being sufficiently short to allow said spring to.

bring said plumbbob against the bottom of said supporting member; and means for reacting against said spring means when desired to lower said plumb bobfrom said bottom. f

4. A plumb bob suspension for oil well surveying instruments comprising: a plumb bob supporting member having an axial perforation in its bottom; a flexible member extending through said perforation; a plumb bob suspended on the lower extremity of said iiexible member; spring means -for urging the other extremity of said flexible member upward to bring said plumb bob against the bottom of said supporting member; manual means for reacting against said spring means when desired tolower said plumb bob from said bottom; and a 'spherical head on said plumb bob contacting and rocking against said bottom.

5. A plumb bob suspension for oil well surveying instruments comprising: a .hollow supporting member having an axial perforation inv its bottom; a fiexible member extending through said perforation; a plumb bob suspended on the lower extremity of said flexible member; spring means within said supporting member and acting against the upper extremity of said exible member to urge it upward, said nexible member being sufficiently short to allow said spring to bring said plumb bobagainst the bottom of said supporting member; and-means for` forcing the upper extremity of said flexible member down- Ward to release said plumb bob.

6. A plumb bob suspension for oil well surveyingv instruments comprising: a hollow supporting memberA having an axial perforation in its bottom; a plumb bob stud threaded into the top of said member; a fiexible member extendsaid flexible member being sumciently short to allow said spring to bring said plumb bob against the bottom of said supporting member; and means for threading plumb bob stud downward to compress said spring and release said plumb bob from contact with said supporting member.

'1. A plumb bob` suspension forV oil well surveying instruments comprising: a 'supporting member having a vertical axial passage extending therethrough; a shoulder in the bottom of said passage; a compression spring supported on said shoulder; a ball supported by said spring; a fiexible member extending from said ball downwardly through said spring; a plumb bob suspended on the lower extremity of said exible member, said flexible member being sumciently short to allow said spring to bring said plumb bob against the bottom of said supporting member; and means for forcing said ball downward .to lower said plumb bob from said supporting member.

dit

8. A plumb bob suspension for oil well surveying instruments comprising: a supporting member having a vertical axial passage extending therethrough; a shoulder in the bottom of said passage; a compression spring supported on said shoulder; a ball supported by said spring; a exible member extending from said ball downwardly through said spring; a plumb bob suspended on the lower extremity of said exible member, said flexible member being sufficiently short to allow said spring to bring said plumb bob against the bottom of said supporting member; and a .releasing member threaded into the upper portion of said passage for facing said ball downwardly to lower said plumb bob from said supporting member.

9. A plumb bob suspension for oil well surveying instruments comprising: a supporting member having a vertical axial passage extending therethrough; a shoulder in the bottom of v said passage; a. compression spring supported on bob against the bottom of said supporting member; and a releasing memberl threaded into the upper portion of said passage for facing said ball downwardly to lower said plumb bob from said supporting member, said releasing member having an axial socket in itsiower extremity for. 5

receiving said ball. f

DANIEL lB. MONROE. 

